Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in the Republic of the Congo, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. It is important to carry a form of identification at all times. Carry a copy of your passport and visa at all times to prevent the originals from being taken by police or armed assailants. Keep the original documents in a secure location. You may be taken in for questioning if you are stopped by the police and are unable to produce an acceptable form of identification. You may be asked to register with Immigration Service officials upon arrival in a new location within the country. Police may stop foreigners and accuse them of minor infractions (which may or may not be valid) requesting the person pay a fine on the spot rather than writing a ticket. The U.S. Embassy does not encourage anyone to pay such fines. Local security forces, especially traffic police who now wear uniforms bearing large identification numbers, routinely detain foreigners to solicit bribes.

It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings, military installations, and other key infrastructure such as ports, train stations, and airports. Keep your camera out of sight in such locations, and do not take photos of Congolese without permission.

There are also some things that might be legal in the Republic of the Congo, but still illegal in the United States.

It is a crime prosecutable in the United States to engage in sexual conduct with children and use or disseminate child pornography in a foreign country. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods, regardless of local law. If you break local laws in the Republic of the Congo, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:  

Currency: The Republic of the Congo is primarily a cash economy and uses the “FinancialCooperation in Central Africa" Franc (CFA). U.S. dollars may be exchanged for local currency, but traveler’s checks are generally not accepted and cannot be cashed at local banks. Some hotels in Brazzaville and in Pointe-Noire now accept major credit cards, but cash remains the preferred method of payment. If you are caught attempting to leave the country in possession of undeclared CFA (without a bank receipt), airport authorities will charge a 20 percent fee or in extreme case, may confiscate the CFA currency.

Customs: Airport police and customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage. For a complete list of prohibited items, please contact the nearest Congolese embassy or consulate. Visitors who seek to export arts and crafts at the airports are frequently subject to an export tax and/or solicitations for bribes from customs agents. Travelers are frequently questioned about how much currency they are carrying and may have to show customs officials how much money they have in their wallets.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals face societal discrimination and harassment, including from police soliciting bribes.

For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Republic of Congo, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in the Republic of the Congo, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. Persons with disabilities face limited access to transportation, communication accommodations, and public buildings. There are few sidewalks and no curb-cuts, and most buildings lack functioning elevators.